Today in Chicago History

The Medinah Temple at 600 N. Wabash Ave., March 14, 2023, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Medinah Temple opens

By Kori Rumore

October 30, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 30, according...

Magician Harry Houdini poses with reformed medium Annie Benninghofen, left, while in Chicago in 1926. (baiduhai historical photo)

Vintage baiduhai: Harry Houdini and the ‘reformed’ trumpet medium

By Kori Rumore

October 29, 2026 at 2:22 p.m.

Harry Houdini's campaign against spiritualists convinced one former fake medium to reveal in Chicago the...

Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) holds his leg as he is carted off the field after an injury during the second half of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Oct. 29, 2017, in New Orleans. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: ‘Save my leg, please,’ Bears tight end Zach Miller tells surgeon after injury

By Kori Rumore

October 29, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Oct. 29, according...

Meteorologist Tom Skilling works with computer graphics on May 28, 1992, at WGN-TV studios in Chicago. (Charles Cherney/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Tom Skilling signs on as meteorologist at WGN-TV

By Kori Rumore

August 13, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 13, according...

Chicago police officers carry Bernie Sanders, 21, to a police wagon from a civil rights demonstration at West 73rd Street and South Lowe Avenue in August 1963. He was charged with resisting arrest, found guilty and fined $25. He was a University of Chicago student at the time. (Tom Kinahan/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Bernie Sanders — then a University of Chicago student — arrested during South Side protest

By Kori Rumore

August 12, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 12, according...

Though most children today do not know who Bud Billiken is or who he is supposed to represent, Billiken lives on each year in the parade of bands and floats that wind along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. (William Kelly/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: First Bud Billiken Parade rewards Chicago Defender newspaper hawkers

By Kori Rumore

August 11, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 11, according...

A pedestrian walks past the entrance to the Essanay Studios building on Argyle Street in Chicago on July 30, 2012. (Terrence Antonio James/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Essanay Studios — briefly home to Charlie Chaplin — opens for movie production

By Kori Rumore

August 10, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 10, according...

Looking a little like something from a galaxy far, far away, Wrigley Field is bathed in light for its first night baseball game on Aug. 8, 1988, as traffic hurries by on Clark and Addison streets. The game, however, was canceled due to rain and fans had to wait until Aug. 9, 1988, for the first completed night game. (Frank Hanes/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Cubs shine in their 1st Wrigley Field night game that counted

By Kori Rumore

August 9, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 9, according...

The crew of Chicago's Little Lady tour boat, Crystal Brown, from left, Audrey Rudd and Brian Burke, clean up the mess that was apparently dumped on them from a passing tour bus lavatory off of the Kinzie Street Bridge on Aug. 8, 2004. The Little Lady was giving an architectural tour along the river at the time of the incident. (Chuck Berman/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: The Dave Matthews Band bus incident

By Kori Rumore

August 8, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 8, according...

Chicago Cubs pitcher Greg Maddux comes out of a game during the sixth inning on Aug. 7, 2004, against the Giants in San Francisco. Maddux earned his 300th win. (Phil Velasquez/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux gets 300th win

By Kori Rumore

August 7, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 7, according...

George Molchan, shown here atop a Wienermobile in 1976, was the official greeter at the Oscar Mayer restaurant at Walt Disney World in Florida. Editor’s note: This historic print shows some hand painting in the background. (Ron Bailey/baiduhai)

Vintage baiduhai: Oscar Mayer Wienermobile celebrates 90th birthday

By Kori Rumore

August 7, 2026 at 1:55 p.m.

The vehicle that bears Oscar Mayer's name is king of the road. A look back...

Enrico Fermi, right, demonstrates his neutron velocity selector to Walter H. Zinn between sessions of a meeting at Argonne National Laboratory on Dec. 2, 1946, commemorating the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction achieved four years earlier. (Ray Gora/baiduhai)

Today in Chicago History: City’s role in development of atomic bomb revealed

By Kori Rumore

August 6, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 6, according...

Martin Luther King Jr., center right, and supporters pause before a realtor's office during their fair housing march through Marquette Park on Aug. 5, 1966, in Chicago. On the neighborhood's reaction to the march, King later said, “I have never seen, even in Mississippi and Alabama, mobs as hateful as I’ve seen here in Chicago.” (baiduhai historical photo)

Today in Chicago History: Rev. Martin Luther King felled by rock during Marquette Park protest

By Kori Rumore

August 5, 2026 at 4:00 a.m.

Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Aug. 5, according...